Baby not talking yet? Ugh, I’ve been there, and it’s a total mind trip. I’m sitting in my Seattle apartment, surrounded by Cheerios stuck to the rug and a sippy cup I swear I lost last week, staring at my 18-month-old, waiting for her to say something—anything. Like, wasn’t she supposed to be quoting nursery rhymes by now? I’m just a mom, not some speech expert, and I’ve got coffee stains on my shirt to prove it, but I’ve learned a ton about toddler speech delays. Here’s my raw, slightly messy take on seven early signs to watch for if your baby’s not talking yet, plus what I did about it. Spoiler: I cried in a Target aisle once. True story.
Why I Totally Lost It Over My Baby Not Talking Yet
So, picture me in my tiny living room, rain smacking the windows, scrolling X and seeing moms post videos of their toddlers basically reciting poetry. Meanwhile, my kid’s just grunting at her Goldfish crackers like they’re the answer to life. I was spiraling—hard. Was it my fault? Too much Cocomelon? (No shade, we’ve all done it.) I dove into Google, bugged my pediatrician, and yeah, sobbed in Target’s tissue aisle—super classy. Turns out, some kids just take their time, but there’s signs to watch if your baby’s not talking yet. Here’s what I learned, mistakes and all.
Sign #1: Your Baby’s Ignoring Their Name
If your baby’s not talking yet and acts like their name’s just white noise, that’s a red flag. My daughter, at 15 months, would just keep stacking blocks when I called her name—loud, soft, sing-songy, borderline desperate. I read on Healthline that kids should respond to their name by 12 months. Mine? Nada. I started pairing her name with silly faces and her favorite rattle, and eventually, she’d glance up. Small wins, y’know?
Sign #2: No Babbling or Goofy Gibberish
Babbling’s like the pre-game for Baby not talking, right? If your kid’s not doing those “ba-ba” or “ma-ma” sounds by a year, take note. My kid was silent, except for her epic meltdown screams. I was so jealous of my friend’s kid, who was practically freestyling in gibberish. The CDC says babbling’s a big deal early on. I started making goofy sounds to her, looking like a total dork, and she finally started mimicking me a bit.
Sign #3: Barely Any Pointing or Gestures
This one gutted me. My toddler wasn’t pointing or waving bye-bye by 18 months. I’d see other kids at the park pointing at squirrels, and mine? Just staring, maybe grumbling. Mayo Clinic says gestures are huge for communication before words. I started playing pointing games—“Where’s the kitty?”—and it was like flipping a switch in her brain.
Sign #4: Zero Words by 18 Months
Most kids have a few words by 18 months—“mama,” “dada,” “milk.” My kid? Zilch. I was panicking, thinking I’d screwed up somehow. I’d sit on my couch, cold coffee in hand, Googling “toddler speech delay” at 3 a.m. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association says 10-20 words is normal by then. If your baby’s not talking yet and has no words, don’t freak like I did—just call your pediatrician. They’ll point you in the right direction.
Sign #5: Struggling to Copy Sounds
Imitation’s key for speech. My daughter wouldn’t even try to mimic “dog” or “ball.” I’d be in our living room, dodging Legos, making over-the-top “woof” noises like a total weirdo. Nothing. KidsHealth says trouble copying sounds can mean a speech delay. I leaned hard into songs—Wheels on the Bus was my jam—and she started trying to copy the “beep-beep” parts. Progress, sorta.
Sign #6: Avoiding Eye Contact When You Talk
Eye contact’s tough, but if your kid’s dodging it during chats or playtime, it’s a sign. My daughter would look at the wall, the floor, anything but me when I talked. Felt like she was ghosting me at 18 months. WebMD says this could tie to speech delays or even autism concerns. I started getting on her level, holding her favorite stuffed bunny, and she’d finally meet my eyes sometimes.
Sign #7: Not Getting Simple Directions
By 18 months, kids should follow basic instructions like “come here” or “give me the toy.” My kid? She’d just wander off or stare blankly. One rainy day, I was on the rug, crumbs everywhere, begging her to “pick up the cup.” Nope. The CDC flags this as a speech delay clue. I started using gestures with words, like pointing to the cup, and it slowly clicked.
What I Did When My Baby Wasn’t Talking Yet
So, what do you do if your Baby not talking yet? I’m no pro, but here’s what helped me, screw-ups and all:
- Talked like a maniac: I narrated everything—laundry, dishes, my existential dread. Felt silly, but it got her hearing words.
- Got a speech therapist: Found one through ASHA. Scary at first, but a total game-changer.
- Made playtime count: Songs, rhymes, noisy toys. My kid loved this squeaky toy pig—random, but it worked.
- Tried to chill: Stressing made it worse. I learned to celebrate her grunts as baby steps.
My Screw-Ups and What I Figured Out
I messed up a lot. Compared my kid to others—worst idea ever. I’d see toddlers on X chatting like mini-adults and feel like trash. Also, I pushed her too hard sometimes, begging for “mama” until we both cried. What I learned? Kids move at their own pace. My daughter’s 2.5 now, got a few words—not Shakespeare, but it’s something. Patience is everything, even when it feels impossible.
Wrapping Up My Rant on Babies Not Talking Yet
Look, if your baby’s not talking yet, it’s okay to stress—I did, big time. But don’t let it eat you alive. Watch these signs, bug your pediatrician, and trust your gut. My apartment’s still a disaster, my coffee’s still cold, but hearing my kid say “kitty” last week? Worth every meltdown. Check out ASHA for more help or talk to a pro. You’re doing better than you think, even if it feels like a hot mess.
Outbound Links:-
Healthline: Toddler Speech Delay
CDC: Developmental Milestones
Mayo Clinic: Language Development
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Speech Development Chart
KidsHealth: When Your Child Isn’t Talking
WebMD: Recognizing Developmental Delays
ASHA: Find a Speech Therapist
